Rare volume worth QR1.2m at book fair Friday, 26 November 2010 04:17

DOHA: Rare books every bibliophile would like to add to his bookshelf are some of the interesting volumes among the more than 36,000 titles on display at the 21st Doha International Book Fair at the Doha Exhibition Centre.

Worth a staggering QR1.2m, Geographia by Claudius Ptolemaeus, known in English as Ptolemy, is the most expensive book for sale at the 10-day fair. Printed in Rome in 1490, the atlas is considered one of the most important early works by the world-famous Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer and astrologer. It is available at the stand of Antiquarriat Forum, world-famous dealers in rare and antiquarian books, prints, maps, manuscripts and drawings.

The atlas is based on Ptolemy’s description of the world and was first printed in 1475. Ptolemy’s manuscript atlas was regarded as the standard work in the field of geography even before it was printed. It became immensely influential and even Columbus found inspiration in Ptolemy’s exaggerated size of Asia for his own fateful journey to the west.

Another prized collector’s item is the 1561 edition of a complete set of all three parts of a famous map of the East by Giacomo Gastaldi. Priced at QR910,000, the map includes details such as the coastline of the Arabian and the Qatari peninsula.

“Geographia by Ptolemy and Gastaldi’s maps are two of the most interesting in our collection since they show how people during two different times saw the world,” said Laurens R Hesselink of Netherlands-based Antiquarriat Forum.

Hesselink also showed three rare volumes on Islamic art worth QR325,000 and books on horses and falconry, which might be of interest to Arabs.

A crowd-drawer at the event is the stand of Austria-based Adeva, which specialises in the reproduction of rare manuscripts,

One of the fascinating manuscripts showcased is their newest special facsimile project, which is the text of the Koran written completely in gold.

D I Paul Struzl, Assistant to the Board of Adeva, said the 368-page Golden Koran will be launched next year and it would be worth QR30,000.

Also on sale is a reproduction of the Psalterium Sancti Ruperti, a minute book dating back to the 8th century. It measures 37mm by 31mm and is worth QR6,500.

“We are not only reproducing ancient books but other items such as maps and music manuscripts, using various materials such as gold, silver and ivory,” said Struzl, adding it takes them a year to create one manuscript.

Adeva’s luxurious reproductions, which are hailed for looking just like the original, have been included in the collection of prominent personalities including the Pope and the king of Morocco.

“We have a huge customer base in many countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, the US and Mexico. The Middle East is one of our emerging markets,” said Struzl.

THE PENINSULA

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